GTKPR
An acronym, which stands for Gatekeeper, created by Glenn Langenburg in 2001 to help
remember the suggested Daubert criteria. The theories or technique should have:
General Acceptance
Tested (has been)
Known Standards
Peer Review and Publication
Rate of Error (known or potential)
GYRO
A color coded system of documenting the level of confidence that an examiner has assigned to
friction ridge details observed in fingerprint images. The level of confidence refers to the analyst’s
certainty of the existence of the feature and the tolerance which has been assigned to that
feature. This system was developed by Glenn Langenburg in 2005 and published in 2011. GYRO
is an acronym for Green / Yellow / Red / Orange. Although these colors are used in GYRO, other
colors can be used as long as the meaning of the colors is established.
Green is used to note ridge details observed with high confidence levels.
Yellow is used to note ridge details observed with medium confidence levels
(details that may be associated with minimal distortion).
Red is used to note ridge details observed with a great deal of uncertainty
(details that may be on the edges or associated with high distortion).
Orange is used to note ridge details not initially observed while analyzing the latent print, but
observed in the latent print after noticing the details in the exemplar print.
Galton Details
Term referring to friction ridge characteristics (also known as minutiae) attributed to the research
of English fingerprint pioneer, Sir Francis Galton.
SWGFAST, Standard Terminology of Friction Ridge Examination 3-23-11 ver. 3.0
Galton, Sir Francis (Feb. 16, 1822-Jan 17, 1911)
Early fingerprint pioneer. Credited with naming the original details found in a fingerprint. In his
1892 book “Finger Prints”, Galton refers to them as forking ridges, beginning or ending ridges,
islands and enclosures (pg. 90).
Garson, Dr. John George
Dr. Garson learned about anthropometry directly from Alphonse Bertillon. He was a staunch
supporter of the Anthropometry System in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. During the 1890’s,
he headed the Scotland Yard Anthropometric Office. In 1894, when the Troup Committee
recommended adding fingerprints to Bertillon cards, Garson implemented a system of
classification that was used in conjunction with the anthropometry system but it does not appear
that the fingerprints were used for identification purposes for some time after this. In 1900, he
presented his system to the British Association for the Advancement of Science at Bradford and
subsequently wrote a book explaining it, titled “A System of Classification of Finger Impressions”
(1900). In the same year Dr. Garson testified in front of the Belper Committee against using
fingerprints as a form of identification. Garson’s name appears in some well-known identification
cases. His name comes up as being involved in Adolph Beck’s 1895 erroneous identification due
to personal recognition and he is known for testifying for the defense in the 1905 Stratton
Brothers case.
General Consensus
General consensus refers to the scientific acceptance of ideas and conclusions. General
consensus is the common view after validation and rigorous debate, as opposed to a democratic
vote.
General Electric Co. vs. Joiner (1997)
In a unanimous decision, the court overturned part of the lower court’s decision, ruling that trial
judges can specify the kind of scientific testimony that juries can hear.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/supcourt/1997-98/genelec.htm 02-27-03
Some people have interpreted this court decision to mean that the courts can determine if the
science was applied reliably (which is different that Daubert which determines if the science is
reliable).
See Daubert and Kumho Tire Co.
Generating Layer of Epidermis
See Stratum Basale.
Genetics
Having to do with origin and natural growth or the genes.
Quantitative-Qualitative Friction Ridge Analysis, David R. Ashbaugh 1999 CRC Press
Genipin
A reagent used to develop friction ridge detail on porous items producing dark blue images.
Genipin can be visualized with or without fluorescence.
J Forensic Sci, Mar. 2004, Vol. 49, No. 2
Gentian Violet
Violet stain used to develop or enhance friction ridge detail, which can be viewed by either
fluorescence or nonfluorescence. Also known as Crystal Violet.
SWGFAST, Glossary – Consolidated 09-09-03 ver. 1.0
A stain that dyes the fats, greases and oils that are sebaceous sweat. Usually used on the
adhesive side of tape.
George, Marc Terrance
On Sept. 24, 2005 Marc Terrance George tried to enter the United States illegally. In the process
it was determined George had altered his fingerprints by having surgery to switch the skin on his
hands and feet. On May 3, 2006, George was sentenced to 13 months in jail for money
laundering and drug trafficking.
In May 2007, the doctor who performed the surgery, Dr. José L. Covarrubias, was arrested trying
to enter the United States. Dr. Covarrubias was charged with conspiring to distribute marijuana.
In Nov. 2007, he plead guilty to a federal charge of harboring and concealing a fugitive. On Feb.
12, 2008, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. 6 months were taken off of his sentence for
his cooperation during the investigation.
German, Edward Raymond
Ed German is considered to be one of the most prominent and influential examiners in the latent
print community. He began his career with the FBI in 1971 and has since been involved in every
aspect of latent print work, including research, training, and setting industry standards. He has
been a distinguished representative of many fingerprint organizations – he held various leadership
roles in the IAI, is a Fellow in The Fingerprint Society, an active member of ASCLD, a charter
member of the Japan Identification Society, and served as a member and Committee Chairman
for SWGFAST. Early on he was involved in many research projects, the most notable resulting in
his invention of Redwop in 1986. In addition, he was responsible for the introduction of
cyanoacrylate fuming, potassium thiocyanate, and RUVIS to many English-speaking countries.
He was the first Examiner to testify to visualization of latent prints using lasers (Sierra Vista, AZ,
Oct. 1981), and was a key witness in the first Daubert Hearing (US v. Mitchell, 1999). He has also
been a contributor to many authoritative books and publications, which include “Scott’s
Fingerprint Mechanics”, “Advances of Fingerprint Technology” and McGraw Hill “Encyclopedia of
Science and Technology” as well as being the primary author of the Boy Scouts of America’s
“Fingerprinting Merit Badge Pamphlet”. Besides his fingerprint expertise, he is also an expert in
many other areas of forensic science including footwear, tire, and fabric impression evidence.
This is only a brief summary of the contributions and accomplishments Ed German has brought to
the latent print community. He has received numerous awards and honors for his significant
efforts and is recognized as one of the leading experts in his field.
Germinating Layer of Epidermis
See Stratum Basal.
Giglio v. United States (1972)
An extension of the Brady decision which states that the prosecutor is obligated to disclose
impeachment material to the defense. Impeachment material can include honesty, integrity,
impartiality, and credibility.
See Brady and United States v Henthorn.
Glacial Acetic Acid
Chemical used in the preparation of reagents and dye stains.
SWGFAST, Glossary – Consolidated 09-09-03 ver. 1.0
Glandular Folds
Folds on the underside of the epidermis that correspond to the friction ridges, aka primary ridges.
Glycine
Glycine is the simplest amino acid and the second most common amino acid found in proteins,
occurring at a rate of approximately 7.5%. Since amino acids are one of the organic components
of eccrine sweat, glycine is often used to test latent print chemicals for an amino acid reaction.
Gold Chloride
A metal salt used in the multimetal process for developing latent prints.
SWGFAST, Glossary – Consolidated 09-09-03 ver. 1.0
Gold Tetrachloride / Colloidal Gold
Initial suspension used in the Multimetal Deposition Process.
SWGFAST, Glossary – Consolidated 09-09-03 ver. 1.0
Granular Layer of Epidermis
See Stratum Granulosum.
Grew, Dr. Nehemiah (September 26, 1641-March 25, 1712)
Dr. Nehemiah Grew was an English scientist and physician who microscopically studied cells,
tissues, and organs of plants. He was born in Mancetter Parish, Warwickshire 1641 and died in
1712 in London. In 1684 he described the patterns on the hands in great detail. Besides the
ridges, he also noted pores. Dr. Grew’s writings are some of the earliest writing found on the
subject of fingerprints, subsequent to Marcello Malpighi.
Grieve, David Lee (July 29, 1940- Sept. 19, 2024)
David Grieve began his fingerprint career in 1965 with the Portland Police Bureau, Portland,
Oregon. In 1974, Mr. Grieve became the technical supervisor of the Washington State Patrol’s
Identification Section in Olympia, Washington, helping to resurrect a state bureau that had been
dormant for 13 years. Mr. Grieve accepted a position with the Illinois State Police in 1982 at their
Maywood Laboratory as a forensic scientist. In 1984, Mr. Grieve assumed the responsibility of
training coordinator in the Illinois State Police Forensic Sciences Command and trained over 65
forensic scientists in the mysteries and nuances of latent print examination. Mr. Grieve was editor
of the Journal of Forensic Identification from 1990 to 2001 and was a member of the FBI-sponsored
Scientific Working Group on Friction Ridge Analysis, Study and Technology from 1996-2008. In 1999,
Mr. Grieve was selected by the US Attorney’s Office in Philadelphia to be part of the government’s
team in the first Daubert challenge to fingerprints, US v Mitchell. That same year, Mr. Grieve testified
for the defense in High Court, Glasgow, Scotland, related to an incorrect fingerprint identification in
which a police officer, Shirley McKie, was charged with perjury and subsequently acquitted. In addition,
Mr. Grieve was the chief delegate to the International Forensic Science Symposium in Taiwan, a
moderator at the International Symposium on Fingerprint Detection and Identification in Israel,
invited speaker to fingerprint conferences in the UK, and participated in a forensic science exchange
program in Moscow, Russia.
On Nov. 30, 2007, David Grieve retired from the Illinois State Police Department.
Grip Print
A recording of the friction skin typically touching an object when gripped. This includes the side of
the index finger, the inner side of the interdigital area, the web area and the inner side of the
thumb.
The outer edge of a palm print typically left on a document when people write. This includes the
outer portion of the hypothenar and may include the outer edge of interdigital section and the
outer edge of the little finger.
Gun Blueing
A solution consisting of acetic acid, selenious acid and cupric salt, used to develop friction ridge
detail on metal surfaces.
SWGFAST, Glossary – Consolidated 09-09-03 ver. 1.0